Alex ruled out for month

Defender Alex is to miss the start of the Barclays Premier League season after Chelsea confirmed he is to be sidelined for a month with a thigh injury.

The 28-year-old will sit out Friday's friendly trip to Ajax because of the knock he picked up in training, as will new signing Yossi Benayoun, who has a groin problem.

"There are no more coming that didn't play against Crystal Palace, so Yossi Benayoun is out and Alex has a problem in his thigh but with the other players it is the same squad," coach Carlo Ancelotti, whose side beat Palace 1-0 at the weekend, told www.chelseafc.com.

It is the second such blow in successive days for Chelsea, who on Thursday saw goalkeeper Petr Cech ruled out for a month with a torn calf.

Friday's game will therefore give back-up keepers Hilario and Ross Turnbull the chance to stake a claim to begin the season in the first team.

"I think that against Ajax we will play 45 minutes each for Turnbull and Hilario, and I think Turnbull will start the game," Ancelotti said.

Copyright (c) PA Sport 2009, All Rights Reserved.

Do YOU want to write for GiveMeSport? Get started today by signing-up and submitting an article HERE: http://gms.to/writeforgms

Report author of article

DISCLAIMER

This article has been written by a member of the GiveMeSport Writing Academy and does not represent the views of
GiveMeSport.com or SportsNewMedia. The views and opinions expressed are solely that of the author credited at the top of this article.
GiveMeSport.com and SportsNewMedia do not take any responsibility for the content of its contributors.

Want more content like this?

Like our GiveMeSport Facebook Page and you will get this directly to you.